Ms Peace said: 'Greater clarity concerning the transitional arrangements is desperately needed, and it is crucial that local authorities receive significant support to get local plans in place.'

But she said the £150m for Tax Increment Finance (TIF) schemes – allowing local authorities to borrow against future revenues – 'seems like very small beer after years of preparatory work'.

'It's also disappointing that, 18 months after TIF was announced as government policy, we have yet to see any detail about how it will work, and we are only promised details 'in the coming months' about how the government will decide which schemes get the go-ahead,' Ms Peace said.